Jackson's first wife Mary "Polly" Payne was the youngest sister of Dolley Madison - they were married in 1800. She died in 1808 of tuberculosis. Jackson continued to correspond with Dolley Madison after the death of his wife and her sister. On June 11, 1810, shortly before he married Mary Sophia Meigs, the daughter of Return J. Meigs Jr., he wrote Dolley that his new wife "is about the size of our dear Mary, [and] much such a person." Theater fire On December 26, 1811, Jackson escaped a deadly fire that swept through a theater in Richmond, Virginia, killing, among others, Governor of Virginia William Smith. Elections 1803; Jackson was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Federalist Thomas Wilson. 1805; Jackson was re-elected with 57.21% of the vote, defeating Wilson. 1807; Jackson was re-elected with 58.89% of the vote, defeating Federalist Noah Winsly. 1809; Jackson was re-elected with 60.26% of the vote, defeating Linsly. 1813; Jackson was re-elected with 60.21% of the vote, defeating Wilson. 1815; Jackson was re-elected unopposed. Biographies Two books have been written about Jackson's life. References Sources Hon. Armistead M. Dobie, "Federal District Judges in Virginia before the Civil War," 12 F.R.D. 451 (1951,1952) (viewed on Westlaw) 1777 births 1825 deaths Virginia lawyers Judges of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia United States federal judges appointed by James Monroe 19th-century American judges Politicians from Clarksburg, West Virginia Jackson family of West Virginia People from Buckhannon, West Virginia American duellists Democratic-Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia United States federal judges admitted to the practice of law by reading law Lawyers from Clarksburg, West Virginia